Head-on crash sends four people to hospital; woman charged with felony DUI

Ledger photo by TARA JENNINGS Two medical helicopters transported victims from this head-on accident Monday on Battleground Road. Two more victims were taken to area hospitals by ambulance. Four people, including two children, were seriously injured in a head-on crash Monday afternoon on Battleground Road about eight miles west of Gaffney.

Helicopters from Spartanburg Regional Medical Center (SRMC) and Greenville Memorial Hospital (GMH) responded to the 3:45 p.m. accident along with medics from Upstate Carolina Medical Center (UCMC) and firefighters from Macedonia, Cherokee Creek and Cowpens fire departments.

Brandy Scruggs, 23, of 249 Cliffside Hwy., Chesnee, is charged with felony driving under the influence with great bodily injury as well as child endangerment, said Lance Cpl. Bryan McDougald of the S.C. Highway Patrol.

More charges are pending, the trooper said.

Scruggs was flown by Regional One to SRMC. Her northbound 1987 Cadillac traveled into the southbound lane and struck a Lincoln Town Car driven by 58year-old Rachel Jarvis, of 245 Maple St., Cowpens, McDougald said. Jarvis was taken by ambulance to SRMC.

Both Scruggs and Jarvis remained at SRMC in fair condition Tuesday afternoon, according to a hospital spokesman.

Two male children, ages 2 and 9, were passengers in the Scruggs vehicle. Rescuers extricated the 9year-old, who was flown by MedTrans to GMH. An ambulance took the 2-year-old to SRMC. Both children were properly restrained, the officer said. Their conditions were not available.

Scruggs faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of felony driving under the influence with great bodily injury and 10 years if convicted of child endangerment.